Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of this session is for the committee to undertake a resumed examination of compliance with the nitrates directive and the implications for Ireland. As you may know, gentlemen, as a committee, we have had a series of meetings on the nitrates directive. We intend to put together a report that will be sent to Brussels. I think everyone will agree that we cannot leave any stone unturned regarding our 220 kg derogation limit. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that our dairy industry is at a crossroads. Farmers are extremely anxious and fearful about what is coming down the tracks with the added bureaucracy and what restrictions will be imposed on them in the future. It is essential that we use every arrow in our armoury to make sure we can put the best case forward for our country regarding the retention of the 220 kg limit. Without it, the financial implications for rural Ireland are too horrid to contemplate.

We will hear from Mr. Pat Sheahan, chairperson, Dairy Industry Ireland and CEO for north Cork; Mr. Billy Cronin, head of supply chain, farm to factory, Dairygold; Mr. Thomas Ryan, senior sustainability manager, Tirlán; Dr. Sean McCarthy, sustainability and service manager, Kerry Agribusiness; Mr. Conor Mulvihill, director, Dairy Industry Ireland and Mr. Dale Crammond, director, Meat Industry Ireland. You are all very welcome to the meeting. I will now ask you to read your opening statements and then we will have a question-and-answer session with the members. Hopefully, we can put some points together that will help us to win the argument in Brussels and convince the other member states to continue our derogation status.